Workshop Selections

​Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Lunch Choice

Request for Presentation Proposals

The Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration (ICOVA) committee is pleased to announce the request for presentation proposals for the conference to be held on Wednesday, August 16, 2017. Below you will find the necessary information regarding our mission, curriculum, audience and setting to assist you with the completion of your proposal.

Conference presenters will be selected based on relevance and applicability of proposed workshop topics, and clarity of workshop objectives. Completed proposals are due by Friday, April 7, 2017.You will hear back from us on or before May 13, 2016, regarding the acceptance of your workshop proposal.

Information for Presenters﻿﻿

Conference MissionThe Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration (ICOVA) provides valuable networking opportunities for volunteer management professionals. The ICOVA Conference promotes innovative and dynamic thought by presenting quality professional development opportunities focusing on the future of volunteer administration, including the role of technology and its impact, and strategic approaches to issues facing our society. This year's ICOVA theme is Focus on the Future, and will be held in Chicago on Wednesday, August 16, 2017.

Conference ContentThe conference consists of fifteen to eighteen 75-minute breakout workshops and an opening plenary session . We welcome proposals from individual presenters as well as team and panel presentation proposals. We ask that you focus on providing a great learning experience for the participants and refrain from promoting any products or services with which you may be affiliated. The general areas that workshops should relate to are:

Fundamentals of Volunteer Management

Applied Research and Innovative Tools in Volunteerism

Social Networking and Using Technology to Engage Volunteers

General and Financial Management

Human Resources

Board Development and Maintenance

Budgeting, Accounting and Auditing

Risk Management

Resource Development and Funding Diversification

Partnerships and Collaborations (Team Presentations Encouraged)

Personal and Professional Growth and Development

​AudienceThe conference traditionally attracts volunteer administration professionals with a wide range of knowledge and experience, representing the non-profit, governmental and private sectors in the state of Illinois and portions of Wisconsin and Indiana. Please plan for an average attendance of 20 - 30 participants for your workshop.

Workshops will be categorized as follows:

Early Career: New volunteer administrators who have been in the field fewer than 5 years. They are seeking fundamentals in all aspects of volunteer engagement.

Mid-Career: Volunteer administrators who have been in the field for 5 – 10 years. This group is looking for workshops pertaining to volunteer-staff relations, measurement strategies & tools, cultivating & working with volunteer leadership, and specialized volunteer programming.

Advanced Career: Volunteer administrators who have been in the field for 10+ years. This category may include topics such as time, project and/or program management, negotiation skills, working with corporate or non-profit partnership organizations, fundraising, and strategic planning. These workshops may include innovative approaches or best practices.

Setting and EquipmentPresenters will have wireless internet and LCD projectors at their disposal, but will need to bring laptops. Any other equipment or supply needs should be listed in the proposal. We will follow-up with you to confirm that we can meet your equipment and supply needs.

Benefits to PresentersICOVA is an all-volunteer organization. Though we are unable to pay honorariums, workshop presenters are given the following benefits:

Invitation to attend all other portions of the conference

Option to distribute promotional materials to conference delegates

Their names and organizations highlighted in registration materials with links on our website.

Submitting a ProposalICOVA will only accept online proposals.

Please email your bio and your head shot to illinoiscova@gmail.com at the time that you submit your proposal.

The Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration (ICOVA) provides valuable networking opportunities for volunteer management professionals. The ICOVA Conference promotes innovative and dynamic thought by presenting quality professional development opportunities focusing on the future of volunteer administration, including the role of technology and its impact, and strategic approaches to issues facing our society.